Clamp for frame straightening machines



Oct. 12, 1948. c. SOUTH CLAMP FOR FRAME STRAIGH'iENING MACHINES Filed April 15, 1947 Patented Oct. 12, 1948 CLAMP FOR FRAME STRAIGHT E NING MACHINES Chester South, Rock Island, Ill., assignor toBear Manufacturing Company, Rock Island, 11 1., a

corporation of Delaware Application April 15, 1947, Serial No. 741,582

2 Claims.

'chine.

In straightening automobil frames, axles, knee-action units and other parts of automobiles, it is desirable to apply a force in the opposite direction to the force which caused the damage to the automobile. This is often accomplished by securing the frame of an automobile to the frame of a frame straightening machine and then applying a forward pull to the damaged part. It has heretofore been the practice to employ chains for holding an automobile frame in position during a forward pull on the damaged part of the automobile, As a hydraulic jack is employed as a source of power in straightening the damaged parts, it is apparent that a considerable portion ofthe jack strokeis employed in removing'the slack from the restraining chain. It will'readily be understood that considerable labor is wasted when it is necessary to adjust the jack several times due to expansion of chain means employed to hold an automobile frame against forward movement.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a clamping means adapted to rigidly secure an automobile frame against forward movement along a frame straightening machine when a forward pull is being applied to damaged parts of an automobile.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a frame clamping means which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction, reliable in operation and which will not readily et out of order.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a frame clamping means which may readily be adjusted to permit adjustment of an automobile longitudinally along a frame straightening machine and relative to a hydraulic jack and jack stand positioned for engagement with the damaged part of the automobile.

This invention embodied other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the manner in which the clamping means is applied to an automobile frame to hold th latter against a forward pull applied to a damaged part disposed at the front endofvthe automobile. J 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view-showing the clamp.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of same.

Referring now to the drawings for a better-understanding of this invention; the clamp, as generally indicated at 5, is shown as comprising a strain bar 6 which is bifurcated at one end at (I to provide a pair of spaced parallel arms '8 formed with apertures 9 to receive a pivot pin II. The opposite end of the strain bar 6 is threaded at [2 to receive an adjustment nut I3. Y Y

A frame clamp I4 is adapted to be secured to the frame [6 of an automobile by means of two or more bolts H. The bolts 17 are d posed on 0D- posite sides of the automobile frame l6 and mounted in apertures provided in the base I8 of the frame clamp M. The upper ends of the bolts I! are mounted in spaced apertures provided in a cross bar I!) extending transversely across the top of the automobile frame-l6. The frame clamp I4 is provided with a web 2| formed with one or more pivot pin apertures 22 to receive the pivot pin II. The arms 8 of the strain bar 6 are adapted to straddle the web 2| and to be connected thereto by means of the pivot pin I I.

An abutment bracket 23 is provided with a recess 24 to receive and engage the threaded end of the strain bar 6, and is also provided with a base 26 formed with a hook portion 21 to engage under a flange 28 of a rear stand cross beam 29. One or more spacing collars 3| are provided on the threaded end of the strain bar 6 for engagement between the back face 32 of the abutment bracket 23 and the adjustment nut IS. A pair of lug 33 extend rearwardly from the back face 32 of the abutment bracket to engage the adjacent spacing collar 3! to prevent upward movement of the threaded end of the strain bar from the recess 24 A hydraulic jack 36 is secured to a jack stand 31 which is adjustably positioned along the frame 38 of a frame straightening machine in the manner well known in this art. The jack 36 is provided with a plunger 39 for applying a forward pull or push to a damaged part of an automobile to restore the damaged part to its original position or shape. Durin forward movement of the jack plunger 39 in applying a force in a forward direction to a part of the automobile, it Will be noted that the frame [6 of the automobile is securely held against forward movement by the clamp 5.

In the use of the frame clamp 5, it will be 3 c noted that the clamp may beapplied to either side of the automobile frame I6 and that the abutment bracket 23 may be readily positioned transversely along the rear stand beam 29. After the jack stand 31 has been secured in adjusted position upon the machine frame 38, it may be desirable :to provide one or morespacing collars 3| to the threaded end of the'strain bar 6; after which, the adjustment nut I3 is tightened until the plunger 39 is in working engagement with the damaged part of the automobile. I-Iydraulic pressure is then supplied to the jack 36 to move the plunger 39 in a forward direction. L

In the use of a clamp of the type shown and described, it will be noted that all the 'slack is' removed from the set-up of the frame straightening machine prior to actuation'of the. jack plunger 39, thereby converting the entire stroke of the plunger into effective work of straightening the damaged part or parts of the automobile.

While this inventionhasbeenvshown in'but one form, it is obvious to those skilled in theart that "it i's' not so limited but is susceptible "of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit'aifd scope of the claime'd invenliar having its one en'dthreaded andmounted in said-"recess, a collar 'slidably mounted on the *threaded end of said strain bar for engagement against'saidbossesa pair of lugs projecting rear- ?war-dly "from their respective bosses for "engagement with said collarto prevent accidental outward-displacement 'of said strain bar from said recess, an adjustment nut threaded onto said strain bar to move said collar into operative position against said bosses and under said lugs, and

a frame clamp pivotally connected to the other end of said strain bar.

2. In a clamp for use with frame straightening machines embod'ying "side rails and a transverse abutment member, an "abutment bracket, a hook portion provided on the outer end of said abut-. ment bracket for detachable engagement with the transverse abutment member of a frame straightening machine, a pair of bosses disposed in spaced relation and projecting upwardly from said abutment bracket to define a recess, a strain bar having its one end threaded and mounted in said recess, the other end of said strain bar being bifurcated, a collar slidably mounted on the threaded end of said strain bar for engagement against said bosses, a pair of lugs projecting rearwardly from their respective bosses for engagement with said collar to prevent accidental outward displacement of said strainbar 'frOm said recess, an'adjustment nut 'threaded onto said strain bar to move said collar into operativeposition'ag'ainstsaid bosses and under said lugsg a frame clamp, means to detachably connect said frame clamp to theframe of an automobile, aweb projecting Y downwardly from said frame clamp, and means to pivotally connectthe'bifurcatedend ofsaid strain bar tosaid frame clamp web.

' CHESTER SOUTH.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of 'recordin file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 1,773,187 Johnson Au'g..19,1930 1,785,923 Wade Dec. 23, 1930 2 ,059,972 Smith Nov. 3,151936 2,140,686 

